The Baltimore Experience Corps Study

Johns Hopkins University702 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the Experience Corps program in preventing or delaying physical disability in older adults, by studying the effects of volunteerism on physical, social and cognitive well-being.

The Baltimore Experience Corps Study is a randomized, controlled, community-based trial of the effectiveness of Experience Corps (EC) to determine if participation for adults 60 years and older, over two years of follow-up, results in better outcomes in the EC versus control arm in terms of mobility, strength, balance, and cognitive functioning. The Experience Corps is a community-based model for health promotion for older adults embedded within a social engagement program. The program places older adult volunteers in meaningful roles in public elementary schools, bringing the time, experience, and wisdom of older adults to bear in improving academic and behavioral outcomes of children. The Experience Corps incorporates health promotion preventing disability and dependency associated with aging, into new, generative roles for older adults. This program was initially designed by Dr. Linda Fried of this application, along with Marc Freedman of Civic Ventures, Inc. It has gone through two national demonstrations, neither of which evaluated the impact on older adults.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

702

Conditions

Aging Generativity

Interventions

Experience CorpsBEHAVIORAL

High intensity volunteering (15 hours a week or more) over a two year time period working with children in grades K-3 in Baltimore City Schools. Controls are assigned to usual activities for two years and then offered opportunity to volunteer with children at the end of two year.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 60 years or older * Agree to commit to at least 1 year of participation in the EC and to participate at least 15 hours per week for the full school year, if randomized to the intervention group * Meet minimum criteria for cognitive functioning necessary to function successfully in a school setting * Functionally literate, using a nationally recognized and standardized evaluation which provides grade level equivalency in reading and spelling * Ability to travel to the schools, if randomized to the intervention group * Agree to accept randomization and to participate in evaluations * Clearance on the Baltimore city public school's criminal background check, if randomized to intervention group * Complete training, if randomized to intervention group Exclusion Criteria: * Under 60 years of age

Locations (1)

Center on Aging and Health

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Decreased disability in mobility and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)

Walking speed, chair stands, questionnaires related to mobility and activities

Time frame: Measured in 4 month intevals from baseline to 24 month

Secondary Outcomes

Decreased falls

Time frame: Measured in 4 month intervals from baseline to 24 month

decreased rate of decline in memory

Time frame: Measured in 4 month intervals from baseline to 24 month

increased, preserved or slowed decline in strength, balance, walking speed, frailty, timed "get up and go", cortical plasticity and executive function and speed and accuracy in objective IADL task performance

Time frame: Measured in 4 month intervals from baseline to 24 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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